Device for jettisoning fired cases from automatic firearms



Sept. 26, 1961 R. H, coLBY ET AL DEVICE FQR JETTIsoNING FIRED CASES FROM AUTOMATIC FIREARMS Filed Sept. 29. 195

Sept. 26, 1961 R. H. coLBY Erm. 3,001,453

DEVICE FOR JETTISONING FIRED CASES FROM AUTOMATIC FIREARMS 1N V EN TORS Richard H Enlhy Rgy mnn W. Hgg'n-ry Byj. @me v- QJ.

sept.26,1961 RH. OLBY Em 3,001,453

DEVICE FOR JETTISONING FIRED CASES FROM AUTOMATIC FIREARMS FledSept. 29, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig- 4- |21 F 32 34 l ze 60 935g #f5 Q 36 Il l Li|l I 1'?- 56 Q 52 w 2e loe e2 76 ea 869884 "In 22 m* U11 HWF 'OO 96 7o 55 '62 e a f l .L J l |21, l? 514 le 2o |12 Figi- EL |14 |2\` l S JIU ...151, .51| 1 32 \\\.=\1= Q f l I4 wg 2o oo 24 VENToRs 5 A Rinhnr E H -Dollar v Sept. 26, 1961 R. H. coLBY l-:TAL

DEVICE FOR JETTISONING FIRED CASES FROM AUTOMATIC FIREARMS Filed Sept. 29, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent O M 3,001,453 DEVICE FOR JETTISONING FIRED CASES FROM AUTOMATIC FIREARMS Richard H. Colby, South Hadley, and Raymond W. Hegarty, Springfield, Mass., assignors to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Filed Sept. 29, 1959. Ser. No. 843,317 11 Claims. (Cl. 89-33) (Granted under Title 35, U.S. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to automatic firearms and more particularly to devices Afor ejecting the fired cartrldge cases therefrom.

It is an object of this invention to provide for automatic firearms a crane device for carrying fired cartridge cases in a controlled path away from the extractor to a position outside the gun for engagement with an ejector to be jettisoned thereby from the firearm.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a device which is simple and rugged in construction and positive in operation.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment yas shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the firearm broken away to show the relationship of the parts when the firearm is in battery position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the retainer before clasping the fired case engaged between the extractor and rammer;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. l but showing the fired case fully engaged by the retainer;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary View similar to FIG. 1 but showing the fired case partially turned end for end during movement thereof to the ejection port;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the fired case positioned outside the ejection port and aligned for engagement with the ejector;

FIG. 6 is a view taken along line 6 6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a View taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a view taken yalong line 8-8 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective exploded view of the retainer.

Shown in the figures is a firearm 12 having a receiver 14 the length of which has been reduced by positioning most of the action below the center line of a barrel 16 which is mounted in the upper portion of the receiver and, therefore, spaced a considerable distance from an ejection port 17 in the bottom thereof. Barrel 16 iS slidingly mounted in receiver 14 so as to be actuatable in reciprocal operation responsive to the discharge of a cartridge 18 in a chamber 19 of the barrel. Cartridge 18 includes a case 20 with an annular extractor groove 22 which is spaced from the base of the case to form a rim 24.

Disengageably mounted on the breech end of barrel 16 for reciprocation therewith is a barrel extension 26 which includes a pair of rearwardly extending side plates 28 which are vertically disposed and laterally spaced so as to be respectively positioned adjacent the sides of receiver 14.

A carrier 30 is mounted in the front end of barrel extension 26 for longitudinal reciprocation to and from a position adjacent the breech end of barrel 16 and along the underside of a feed tray 32. Carrier 30 Aincludes a rammer 34 which extends integrally forward from the top side thereof and which is disposed to engageably transfer cartridge 18 from a throat opening in feed tray Patented Sept. 26, 1961 ICC 32 to chamber l19. An extractor 36 is pivotally mounted on the underside of carrier 30 by means of a laterally disposed pin 38 and is arranged to extend forwardly from the carrier parallel to rammer 34 for cooperation therewith in grasping case 20 for removal thereof from chamber 19.

Extractor 36 engages case 20 by means of a hook 40 which is disposed on the front end of the extractor so as to be receivable by extractor groove 22. The front end of extractor 36 is biased upwardly by means of a spring 42 disposed between the extractor and carrier 30 rearwardly of pin 38 to resiliently retain hook 40 in extractor -groove 22 and press rim 24 against rammer 34 for retaining case 20 in a longitudinal position during extraction thereof. The front end of hook 40 is beveled, as noted at 44, so that the hook is rideable over rim 24 for entry into extractor groove 22 during forward movement of carrier 30 relative to cartridge 18 after movement thereof is stopped by contact thereof with the walls of chamber 19.

A breechblock 46 is disposed in barrel extension 26 for lateral reciprocation therein responsive to the reciprocal movement of barrel extension 26 and a portion thereof is arranged to pass between rammer 34 and extractor 36 when cartridge 18 is fully received in chamber 19 to support the rear end of the cartridge when discharged. The longitudinal movement of barrel extension 26 is converted to lateral movement of breechblock 46 by means of a -follower 48 which is mounted thereon for cooperation with a cam slot 50 provided in receiver 14. Cam slot 50 is so formed that breechblock 46 is actuated to close chamber 19 during the final half of the counterrecoil stroke of barrel extension 26 and is actuated clear of the chamber during the initial half of the recoil stroke of the barrel extension.

Carrier 30 is actuated in synchronism with breechblock 46, and responsive to the reciprocation of barrel 16, by an accelerator 52 which is mounted on barrel extension 26 for pivotal movement responsive to translational movement thereof as hereinafter described. Accelerator 52 includes a hub portion 54 which is journaled on an axle 55 that extends laterally between the side plates 28 approximately midway of the forward and rearward limits of travel of the rear end of carrier 30 and adjacent the bottom of each of the side plates 28. Extending upwardly from hub portion 54 is a beam 56 on the left side of the free end of which there is provided a cross-arm 58 which slidingly engages a vertically disposed channel 60 `formed in the right side of carrier 30 adjacent the rear end thereof. Thus, pivotal movement of accelerator 52 is converted to translational movement of carrier 30.

Accelerator 52 is pivotally displaced responsive to reciprocation thereof with barrel extension 26 through the cooperation of an extraction arm 62 and a ramming arm 70 which extend integrally from hub portion 54 for respective sliding engagement with cam paths 66 and 72,

which are iixedly disposed relative to receiver 14, during reciprocation of the accelerator with the barrel extension. Accelerator 52 is pivoted to move carrier 30 for the initial half of an extraction stroke and the final half of a ramming stroke through the cooperation of extraction arm 62 with cam path 66 which is formed in a cam plate 68 xedly secured to the left side of receiver 14. Extraction arm 62 is disposed on the left side of beam 56 and slidingly engages cam path 66 by means of a rotary follower 64 which is mounted on the left side of the free end of the extraction arm. Cam path 66 and extraction arm 62 are so related that extraction starts midway of the recoil movement of barrel 16 and ramming finishes at such midpoint. The nal half of the extraction stroke and the initial half of the ramming stroke thereof is accomplished through the cooperation of ramming arm 70 with cam path 72 which is formed in a vertical cam plate 74 mounted to the right side of receiver 14. Ramming arm 70 is disposed on the right side of beam 56 and engages cam path 72 by means of a rotary follower 76 which is mounted on the right side of the free end of such ramming arm.

In order for fired case 20 to be removed from firearm 12 through ejection port 17, it is necessary for the case to pass those actuating members which are disposed in receiver 14 between the breech end of barrel 16 and the ejection port. It is, therefore, necessary that fired case 20 Ibe moved in a controlled path to ejection port 17 to prevent any possible contact with the actuating members to jam the action of firearm 12. This controlled passage is accomplished by providing a crane device 80 which carries tired case 20 from extractor 36 through receiver 14 and out of ejection port 17.

Crane device 80 includes a jib 82 which is formed integral with beam 56 and which extends forwardly at right angles to the beam and midway the length thereof. A retainer 84 is pivotally connected to the free end of ji-b S2 at 8S, such connection being at the rear end of the retainer respective to the position thereof when accelerator 52 is in its rearward position, as shown by FIG. 3, and the retainer is positioned by the jib rearwardly adjacent the breech of barrel 16. The opposite end of retainer 84 is supported by a lever 86 one end of which is pivotally connected at 87 to the front end of the retainer when in the aforementioned position. The other end of lever 86 is pivotally connected to a pin 88 which extends inwardly from `the right one of the side plates 28 above axle 55. The length of lever 86 is substantially the same as that of jib 82 and pin 88 is so positioned that retainer 84 is longitudinally disposed, when in the aforementioned position, wherein accelerator 52 in its rearward position, and also when swung to ejection port 17 by the accelerator, is pivoted to its forward position shown by FIG. 1. The distance between axle S and connection 85 is greater than that between pin 88 and connection 87 and, therefore, when retainer 84 is swung through receiver 14, connection 85 swings in a wider arc than connection 87 so that the retainer is turned end for end, as is especially well illustrated by FIGS. 4 and 5, to be reversibly positioned when disposed in ejection port 17. Lever 86 is laterally positioned on pin 88 so that jib 82 and beam 56 may pass clear of the lever during pivotal movement of accelerator 52.

Retainer 84 is porvided with a vertically disposed recess 92 in each of the sides thereof with a hole 94 extending laterally between the recesses. Retainer 84 carries a pair of clips 96, each of which includes a depending portion 98 which is received by one of the recesses 92, and an arcuate clasping portion 100 which cooperates in grasping tired case 20 therebetween. Each of the clips 96 is pivotally mounted on retainer 84 by a pin 102 which extends longitudinally through the retainer above hole 94 and through depending portion 98. A spring 104 is disposed in such hole so as to press outwardly against each of the depending portions and thereby presses the clasping portions 100 together for resiliently grasping tired case 20 therebetween.

The inward movement of each of the clips 96 is limited by contact of an engagement surface 106 on the inner side of the depending portion 98 thereof with the inner Wall of the corresponding one of the recesses 92 with such inner movement being limited to where the top ends of the clips are sutiiciently spaced so as to ride over the extractor held fired case 20 when retainer 84 is pressed upwardly thereagainst.

Retainer 84 also includes a pair of laterally spaced finger portions 108 which, when the clips 96 are forced over case 20, cammingly engage a pair of lugs 110 extending from the sides of extractor 36. Through the camming engagement of finger portions 108 with lugs 110, extractor 36 is pivoted to disengage hook 40 thereon from extractor groove 22 and thereby free case 20 for subsequent removal by retainer 84. Case 20 is retained in longitudinal position while clips 96 are forced thereover during upward movement of retainer 84 by jib 82 through the contact of the case with the underside of feed tray 32.

During counterrecoil of barrel 16 and consequential pivotal movement of accelerator 52 to the forward position thereof, retainer 84 is carried downwardly by jib 82 to ejection port v17 so that the fired case 20, retained by clips 96 on the retainer, extends through the ejection port for contact with an ejector 112 mounted on receiver 14 at the front end of the ejection port. Ejector 112 is fixed to the underside of receiver 14 forwardly of ejection port 17 and is arranged to extend for contact with the base of case 20 which has been turned end for end when moved through receiver 14 by crane device during the final portion of the counterrecoil travel of barrel extension 26 to push the case longitudinally from the clips `96. Ejector 112 is protected by a shield 114.

Thus, when firearm 12 is in battery, as shown in FIG. l, accelerator 52 is in the forward position thereof with a cartridge k18 chambered in barrel 16 and engaged by rammer 34, and extractor 36 with hook 40 thereon received by extractor groove 22. The chambered cartridge is backed up by breechblock 46 and retainer 84 is disposed in ejection port 17 and stripped of a case 20.

When the chambered cartridge 18 is tired, the discharge forces recoil barrel 16 and, consequently, barrel extension 26. During the initial portion of the recoil stroke, breechblock 46 is actuated. away from in back of the red case 20 and the clips 96 are moved rearwardly clear of ejector 112. When breechblock 46 is clear of tired case 20, accelerator 52 is pivoted to move carrier 30 rearwardly for extraction of the fired case 20 from chamber 19 and to swing retainer 84 upwardly Ithrough receiver 14 as shown in FIG. 2. As carrier 30 approaches the rearward position thereof, clips 92 are driven by the upward swing of jib 82 with beam 56 over fired case 20 retained between rammer 34 and extractor 36, and linger portions 108 engage lugs 110 to cam extractor 36 downwardly so as to remove hook 40 from extractor groove 22. Thus, fired case 20 is freed to be swung by jib 82 away from extractor 36 and through receiver `14- during subsequent counterrecoil movement of barrel 16 when accelerator S2 is pivoted to the forward position thereof. Fired case 20 ends up outside of receiver `14 turned end for end and rearwardly in line with ejector -112 so that, during the final portion of the counterrecoil stroke of barrel 16, the fired case is pushed longitudinally through the clips 96.

From the foregoing, it is clearly apparent that the crane mechanism provided herein moves the fired cases in a controlled path through a firearm receiver, and that the crane mechanism is positive in operation and simple and rugged in construction.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein, it is evident that many variations may he devised within the spirit and scope thereof and the following claims are intended to include such variations.

We claim:

1. In a firearm including a receiver with an ejection port for the passage of fired cases therefrom, a barrel for the discharge of cartridges and an extractor for removing the fired cases from the barrel, a crane device actuatable by the forces produced by the discharge of the cartridges in the barrel, said crane device including a jib with a retainer mounted thereon for releasably carrying the fired cases in a controlled path through the receiver and lever means connected with said retainer to cooperate with said jib for turning the cases end for end during passage thereof through the receiver.

2. In a firearm including a receiver with an ejection port for the passage of tired cases therefrom, a barrel for the discharge of cartridges and an extractor for removing the fired cases from the barrel, an ejector depending from the receiver adjacent the front end of the ejection port, a crane device actuatable by the forces produced by the discharge of the cartridges in the barrel, said crane device including a jib with a retainer mounted thereon for releasably carrying the tired cases in a controlled path through the receiver from the extractor and out of the ejection port and lever means connected to said retainer to cooperate with said jib and retainer for turning the cases end for end dur-ing passage thereof through the receiver and positioning the bases of the cases for engagement with said ejector for removal thereby from said crane.

3. In a iirearm including a receiver with an ejection port for the passage of fired cases therefrom, a barrel mounted in the receiver for reciprocation in recoil and counterrecoil strokes responsive to forces produced by the discharge of a cartridge in the barrel, a barrel extension secured to the barrel for reciprocation therewith and an extractor for removing tired cases from the barrel, a crane device mounted to the barrel extension for longitudinal movement therewith, said crane device including clip means disposed for releasably grasping the fired cases extracted from the -barrel by the extractor, cam means operationally disposed between said crane device and the receiver for converting longitudinal movement of the barrel during the initial half of the counterrecoil stroke thereof to pivotal movement of said crane device for swinging the tired cases from the extractor through the ejection port, and an ejector iixed to the underside of the receiver forward of the ejection port and positioned to engageably remove the fired cases from said clip means during the iinal half of the counterrecoil stroke of the barrel.

4. The mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said crane device includes means for turning said clip means end for end while being swung to the ejection port for presenting the base of the tired case grasped by said clip means in position for engagement by said ejector.

5. In a firearm including a receiver with an ejection port in the underside thereof for the passage of tired cases therefrom, a barrel mounted in the receiver for reciprocation in recoil and counterrecoil strokes responsive to forces produced by the discharge of a cartridge in the barrel, a barrel extension secured to the barrel for reciprocation therewith and au extractor for removing tired cases from the barrel, and an accelerator pivotally mounted on the barrel extension for longitudinal movement therewith, a crane device carried by the accelerator for pivotal movement therewith, said crane device including clip means disposed for releasably grasping the fired cases extracted from the barrel by the extractor, cam means disposed in the receiver for engagement by the accelerator to convert longitudinal movement of the barrel during the final half of the recoil stroke thereof to pivotal Imovement of the accelerator and said crane device for swinging said clip means upwardly to grasp the lfired case extracted from the barrel by the extractor and to convert longitudinal movement of the barrel during the initial half of the counterrecoil stroke thereof to pivotal movement of the accelerator and said crane device for swinging the grasped tired case through the ejection port, means included in said crane device for turning said clip means end for end while being swung to the ejection port for presenting the base of the tired case grasped by said clip means in a forward position, and an ejector disposed for contact with the base of the grasped case to push the case from said clip means during the final half of the counterrecoil stroke of the barrel.

6. In a firearm including a receiver with an ejection port in the underside thereof for the passage of fired cases from the receiver and a barrel mounted in the receiver for reciprocation in recoil and counterrecoil strokes responsive to forces produced by the discharge of a cartridge in the barrel, a barrel extension secured to the barrel for reciprocation therewith, a carrier mounted in said barrel extension for longitudinal reciprocation and an accelerator device pivotally mounted to the barrel extension and engaged with cam means in each the receiver and said carrier for actuating said carrier for reciprocation responsive to the longitudinal reciprocation of the barrel extension and in the same directions, an extractor pivotally mounted on said carrier, a hook disposed on said extractor for engagement with an extractor groove in the cartridge for removal of the tired case thereof from the barrel during rearward movement of said carrier, a crane device mounted on said accelerator device for pivotal movement therewith from a position adjacent the tired case when removed from the barrel by the extractor to a position adjacent the ejection port, said crane device including a retainer 4for grasping the tired case removed from the barrel by said extractor and holding the tired case while being -moved by said crane device in a controlled path through the ejection port for jettisoning from 1the firearm, and means disposed on said extractor and said retainer for pivoting said extractor to disengage said hook from the extractor groove of the fired case when said retainer is in grasped relationship therewith.

7. The firearm as described in claim 6 and including a pair of clips resiliently disposed on said retainer for releasably grasping the iired case.

8. The firearm as described in claim 6 wherein said means for pivoting said extractor to release said hook from the extractor groove includes a pair of linger portions extending from said retainer for camming engagement with a pair of lugs provided on the sides of said extractor when the tired case is grasped by said retainer.

9. The firearm as described in claim 6 and including an ejector disposed adajacent the ejection port for engageably pushing the tired case from said retainer.

10. The rearm as described in claim 6 and including means in said crane device for reversing the position of the tired case during movement thereof from said extractor to the ejection port, and an ejector depending from outside the receiver adjacent the front end of the ejection port for pushing the tired case from said retainer during forward movement of said crane device with the barrel extension during the counterrecoil stroke thereof.

11. The rearm as described in clarn 6 wherein said retainer includes a vertically disposed recess in each side thereof with a hole extending laterally therebetween, a clip pivotally mounted to each of the sides of said retainer on a pin extending longitudinally therethrough so as to pass through the corresponding one of said recesses above said hole, each of said clips having a depending portion received in the corresponding one of said recesses and a clasping portion projecting thereabove, said clasping portions being disposed for cooperation in grasping the tired case held by said extractor, a spring disposed in said hole for contact with both of said depending portions to press said clasping portions together, and engagement portions disposed on the insides of said depending portions for contact with the inner walls of the corresponding ones of said recesses to limit the inner movements of said clasping portions to positions suficiently spaced so that said clasping portions may be pressed apart by the upward movement of said retainer against the tired case for subsectjllllent full engagement of said clasping portions therew1 References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

